Sufferin’ ‘Til Suffrage: 40 Years Later, Still One Of The Grooviest Women’s History Lessons

If you were a kid in the ’70s or ’80s you probably learned about conjunctions, the Constitution, and even how a bill becomes a law from the animated educational TV series Schoolhouse Rock. But one of our favorite episodes was Sufferin’ ‘Til Suffrage, which first aired in 1976.

With a blend of groovy animation and historic photographs, singer/songwriter Essra Mohawk sings about the suffrage movement, teaching kids what it took to pass the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the US. And while this was a significant moment in history, it is important to note that many women of color still had to fight for their voting rights long after the 19th Amendment was ratified.

Sufferin’ ‘Til Suffrage Lyrics

Now you have heard of Women’s Rights,
And how we’ve tried to reach new heights.
If we’re “all created equal”…
That’s us too!

(Yeah!)

But you will proba … bly not recall
That it’s not been too … too long at all,
Since we even had the right to
Cast a vote.

(Well!)

Well, sure, some men bowed down and called us “Mrs.” (Yeah!)
Let us hang the wash out and wash the dishes, (Huh!)
But when the time rolled around to elect a president…

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